Seventeen, dead, and in charge of heaven's dark angels—all itching to kill someone.

Madison Avery's dreams of fitting in at school died when she did. Especially since she'd maintained the illusion of a body, dealt with a pesky guardian angel, and oh yeah, brought the reaper who killed her to his untimely end. Not exactly in-crowd material.

Now Madison has learned that she's inherited the job of dark timekeeper and is in charge of angels who protect fate, whatever that means. Never one to abide by the system, Madison forms a group of rogue angels who definitely don't heed the rules of the heavens. But as she grapples with terrifying new powers, Madison may not be prepared for what lies ahead—unless she gets some seriously divine intervention.

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Product Description

Review

“This fast-paced tale delivers some uniquely amusing moments. Fans of Lauren Kate’s Fallen and those who enjoyed the first book may be drawn into Harrison’s world of heaven and earth.” (School Library Journal)

“Harrison injects her young adult debut with style and originality. Rocking good fun, packed full of twists and turns.” (Kelley Armstrong, New York Times bestselling author of the Darkest Powers series on Once Dead, Twice Shy)

“With a Kim Harrison novel, I expect action, humour, worldbuilding, strong female characters, true friendships, and a bit of realistic romance. I found it all right here.” (Melissa Marr, New York Times bestselling author of the Wicked Lovely series on Once Dead, Twice Shy)

“An amusing and entertaining jaunt of an urban fantasy.” (Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) on Once Dead, Twice Shy)

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison was born and raised in the upper Midwest. Her bestselling Hollows novels include Dead Witch Walking; The Good, the Bad, and the Undead; Every Which Way But Dead; A Fistful of Charms; For a Few Demons More; The Outlaw Demon Wails; White Witch, Black Curse; Black Magic Sanction; Pale Demon, A Perfect Blood, Ever After, and The Undead Pool, plus the short story collection Into the Woods, The Hollows Insider and graphic novels Blood Work and Blood Crime. She also writes the Madison Avery series for young adults.

Most helpful customer reviews

Fans of Kim Harrison won't be disappointed by this second title featuring Madison Avery. They will be pulled right along as Madison tries to figure out how to be a dark timekeeper, a position that she didn't want to begin with and would just as soon give back if she was able.

Madison tries her best to keep people from being killed for crimes they have yet to commit, but it may just be out of her hands. With help from Dark Reaper Nakita and Neutral Reaper Barnabas, she tries her best to help people see the path they are walking before it becomes too late to act.

I think this book was actually better than the first one, mainly because we are offered more time to get to know everyone. More questions are raised as Madison tries to figure out exactly where she fits in and how to do her "job" properly. Awesome storyline and I liked how it centered around one reap. I loved getting to know the characters and their take on the situations, although in the end the choices aren't always clear.

EARLY TO DEATH, EARLY TO RISE contains interesting characters and relationships that I believe only make the story that much better. This is 5-star reading material that will keep you coming back for more.

A fabulous sequel to Once Dead, Twice Shy! An exciting story from beginning to end that had me glued to the book until I was finished. Once again Kim Harrison finished off with a nice, neat, satisfactory ending without the use of a cliffhanger, though leaving the loose threads and plot direction for the next and what may be the last book of a trilogy. All the characters from book one return so that even though we've had to wait a whole year for this book, their familiarity quickly comes back to mind and the author does give quick mentions throughout of events that happened in book one to refresh our memory without going into a rehash of book one except for a quick half-page prologue.

I really don't want to say a lot about the plot in the book as it carries on from book one taking the main character Madison Avery, who is dead, further along with the job she has been assigned and I don't want to give plot spoilers for either book. We get a greater insight into the workings behind the scenes and while this actually is an angel book where the angels come from heaven and god (with a little g) is once mentioned, the author has taken great liberty to create her own fictional vision of how death works and what part angels play in helping souls to reach heaven. Harrison's vision is fantastical (having nothing to do with Christianity) but does pose some seriously tough questions about free will.

The characters are wonderful. Madison grows into some of her powers and finds it's not all fun and games to be a supernatural being. Madison grows to connect closer and even bond with some of her supernatural friends, Barnabas the light angel and Nakita the dark angel and Grace the guardian angel.Read more ›

Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)

Amazon.com:
35 reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

Fate or Choice?May 29 2010

By
Jessie Potts
- Published on Amazon.com

Format: Hardcover

Madison is dead, her body is no where to be found and officially she's the new Dark Timekeeper. Always by her side are the Dark Reaper Nakita and The Light (actually neutral) Reaper Barnabas. She doesn't believe in fate though as the Dark Timekeeper she is suppose to, yet she doesn't believe that all these 'marks' will make the right decision on their own, they need some intervention. Naturally this is throwing off the order of everything, and no one Reaper or Seraph knows what to do with her. The sad fact is that as a young senior in high school, she's flying by instinct alone and isn't sure what she's doing either.

This is the second installment of the Madison Avery series and I personally think is better than the first one. The first book Once Dead, Twice Shy threw the reader into a world of marks, Reapers, Timekeepers, amulets, Seraphs, guardian angels, exc. In this book we already have a feel for Madison's world and understand a bit more how reaps work. Madison is working so hard to try to find a balance between being the Timekeeper of fate, yet herself believing in free choice. This whole book is about one reap and the everyone connected to it.

The only reason it didn't get five stars was because I believe it was too short, in hardcover, and needed more storyline. The plot was fantastic, but simple and only involved one reap. Madison didn't even learn any new skills or train with Barnabas. There also wasn't that much action. I love how the story unfolds and where the plot is going though and that makes it a worthy read. Light on action, but thick in characters.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

I tried but I failedMarch 11 2011

By
Darkfallen
- Published on Amazon.com

Format: Hardcover

Madison is the new Dark timekeeping. Much to her disliking I might add. Trying to change the way the heavens have been doing things since the beginning of time isn't as easy as she might think. Especially while she is constantly finding herself in the middle of Nakita, a dark angel, and Barnabus, a once light angel gone grim. The three of them working together is next to impossible. Determined not to give into a fate Madison doesn't believe in, she is out to prove there is another way. That everyone has a choice, but she begins to question herself after spending a little time inside her marks head. Will Madison be able to change the rules of the divine? Or will Nakita get frustrated and scythe him? In the end the big question is will Madison be able to hang on to her beliefs?

After reading the first book in this series I was left intrigued by the whole concept of light and dark timekeepers.Fate vs. Choice

While I did come to understand the concept a little better something about it just isn't setting right with me. I still found myself a bit confused from time to time, as I often did in the first book. I'm also sad to report that it just didn't seem to keep me interested. My mind kept wondering to other stories I've read recently. I will say that I am happy to see Madison has grown up some and Grace is still talking in riddles. At times her riddles were funny, but at others they fell flat.

I was also sad to see that Josh, Madison's love interest, didn't have much of a roll in this book. I would have liked to see more from him and I will admit that when he was in the picture, the book had my attention. When he wasn't my mind started to wander. Can you tell I'm a sucker for teen agnsty tension?? Yep yep I am and I'm not afraid to admit it, but there just wasn't enough in here for me.

This being said all I have left is...Try it you might like it. There are a lot of reviews out there for this series and they range from 1 to 5 stars so who knows maybe you'll understand it better than i did!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Saving SoulsOct. 10 2010

By
Arthur W. Jordin
- Published on Amazon.com

Format: Hardcover

Early to Death, Early to Rise (2010) is the second Fantasy novel in the Madison Avery series, following Once Dead, Twice Shy. In the previous volume, Seth tried to give Madison a final death, but Nakita intervened and killed the dark timekeeper. A seraph then confirmed that Madison was the new dark timekeeper, but Madison still believes in Choice rather than Fate.

Madison decided to try to talk the marks into saving their souls by changing their ways. The seraphs allowed her to try and gave her Barnabas and Nakita to support the effort. Grace was also assigned to Madison.

In this novel, Madison Avery is dead, but appears alive due to Seth's amulet. Although she is now the dark timekeeper, she knows very little about the role. Her reapers are trying to help her, but Nakita is only sure that Madison is boss. Everything else is subject to debate.

Josh Daniels is the son of a coworker of Madison's father. He had witnessed the death of Madison. His memories of the incident were wiped, but now he remembers again.

Barnabas was a light reaper. He is now a grim reaper, neither dark nor light. He is Madison's principal supporter in the project, but even he is not convinced that intervention will work.

Nakita is a dark reaper. She is still puzzled by the situation, but tries her best. Still, this doesn't mean that she has stopped arguing with Baranbas.

Charon is the light timekeeper. Ron had been Barnabas's boss, but is now just a pain in the neck. He believes in Choice, but tends to lie to Madison and Barnabas.

Grace had been Guardian, Reaper-Augmented Cherub Extinction Security number one-seventy-six -- a first level guardian angel -- before Madison gave her a name. Then she was promoted to messenger and assigned to assist and watch Madison. Grace also issues relevant Limericks now and then.

Mitch (Shoe) is a young man is his last year of high school and is headed to college. He works at a pizza joint and plays with computers in his spare time.

Ace is Shoe's best friend, but recently they have been arguing a lot. He is not going to college and believes that Shoe is leaving him behind. Ace also works at the pizza place.

In this story, Grace has brought Madison word of a cyber prankster who will cause the death of a few people at a local hospital. Madison, Josh, Barnabas and Nakita sneak out of school to hunt the cracker. But Nakita doesn't understand about sneaking. She just walks out toward Josh's pickup.

Naturally, Nakita is spotted and the group is caught. Worse yet, they are caught by a cop. They are escorted back toward the school entrance by the policewoman.

Barnabas tells her to drop back as they are walking. As each one passes the cop, Barnabas wipes her memory of that person. Finally, the policewoman reaches the school with only Josh in tow.

Madison is sorry to leave Josh behind, but somebody has to remain or the memory wipe must be deeper. Besides, Josh has little to add to the cracker hunt. Madison gets a ride with Barnabas and they fly off.

During their flight, Madison has an urge to land at a local mall. As she enters the pizzeria to order a cold drink, she witnesses the firing of two teenage employees. She feels that one of them is the cracker.

The reapers argue over which one is the mark. Madison lets them argue and Grace recites a limerick. Then Madison suggests that they split up -- mostly to separate the reapers --and sends Barnabas after Shoe. Then Madison and Nakita follow Ace.

Madison and Nakita get a ride in Ace's car. Along the way, he tells her something about his life and his relationship to Shoe. Madison confides a little about their mission and Ace is shocked. Then Nakita grabs his shirt and demands that he take them to Shoe's house.

Ace orders them out of the truck. Madison is ready to leave, but Nakita isn't ready to let go. Ace threatens to hit her and Madison drags her out of the vehicle.

Now Madison believes that Shoe is one who will cause the deaths. She tries to use her amulet to contact Barnabas, but also touches Ron and another person. Barnabas reaches the two just before Ron appears.

This tale has Madison spying on Shoe at his computer. Then she does a flash forward and watches the cracker load the virus onto a disk. But the flash forward hurts beautifully.

Nothing goes right, but Madison keeps trying. The next installment is Something Deadly This Way Comes. Read and enjoy!

Highly recommended for Harrison fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of supernatural magic, the walking dead, and girls making the best of their situation.

-Arthur W. Jordin

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Better than the First Book!July 23 2010

By
Teen Books
- Published on Amazon.com

Format: Hardcover

Madison is officially the new Dark Timekeeper. This second book is better than the first one. The first book was harder to follow because of the intricate world-building, but now it was laid out, this second book allows you to follow the story of Madison as she attempts to balance her Timekeeper duties with her life. The large cast of characters are interesting, and the book length is fine, as the plot is laid out well. Less action than in the first book, but more character.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Early to Death, Early to RiseDec 1 2013

By
Serenity
- Published on Amazon.com

Madison is trying to learn her new timekeeper role along with the abilities that comes with it. She will do some faux pas, but she is strongly determined and won’t let a little trouble get in the way. Nakita is so lovely. She is trying so hard to fit-in and understand Madison’s reasons to try and prevent scythe. She can’t quite grasp what’s going on but she really wants to help Madison. She is also constantly fighting with Barnabas, which is quite funny. I give this book 4 stars.